Baengno 1787 (15th)
Saved for faint hootings, all was silent in the darkness as the glistening face of the moon smiled winsomely to brighten the dark land. In the distant, a continuous reverberation brought about a stirring. The rooster lifted its head from the haven of its feathers, working its throat and beak. Its crow merged with those sounding from the village below. Eyes fluttered open. Another loud crow. Yawning, she nudged the head next to hers.
"Wake up."
"Hmmmphhh," came the mumble.
The cold would wake him but it was so difficult to leave the warmth herself. Another nudge produced no result. Reluctantly, she sat up, shivering in the slight chill and pulled the quilt away. It produced an automatic curl from him. Rubbing her eyes, she groped for the tunggyong and lit it. Turning back to him, she prodded at his shoulder. There was much to do and many hands would be appreciated.
"Wake up, wake up," she chanted into his ear, shaking him.
"It can't be morning already," he turned over, finally opening his eyes. "It's cold!"
"Get up and move about, that'll warm you up." She evaded his hands when he made to hug her. "Wake P'ado." She reached for her jacket and chima.
"Such a cold heart," he sighed as more shrill crows pierced the air.
A deep yawn almost split his face. He shook the boy next to him. Getting to his feet, he folded away the bedding and quilt she threw to him as P'ado bumbled about with the same task. Shaking himself as he yawned again, he followed her to the kitchen, the boy trailing after, mimicking his motions. The fire was stoked up and once the water boiled, they took it in turns to wash up after which they changed into new clothes. The large pot of songpyeon made the night before was set to steam with pine needles. Rice was washed and toranguk prepared. The kitchen began to fill with bustle and noise when Hyeja and Soo-jin came in. With so many hands, the tasks went faster. Assorted aroma, conversation and daylight began to permeate everywhere.
The doors of the daecheong were opened, the byeongpung unfolded across the room and the low table brought in. Fresh apples, pears, chestnuts, persimmons, dates were set out and arranged on the table. With Suk-kwon, Yunbok went to check on the new wine distilling behind the house next to the jangdokdae. The amount of liquor in the pot was graitfying. Taking a sniff, Suk-kwon nodded in approval and measured out a bottle for the offering.
Out front in the courtyard, Dong-min and Heo Bae sat, chatting casually as they bound stalks of rice, sorghum, millet, barley and other grains. It had been years since they had participated fully in the festival. It reminded them of the home they left behind so many years ago. They looked forward to next year when they would settle near Anseong. The stalks were hung atop the door frame of the daecheong of both houses.
In the kitchen, the women were busy cooking. The table in the daecheong was rapidly filling with other dishes: songpyeon, toranguk, sirutteok, chicken and wine. When all was ready, everyone gathered to perform the charye. Once it was over, the food was shared out. The morning passed amidst much enthusiasm when Chung-su and his brothers came by with their familes. The paper mill buzzed with energy and warm ambience, filled with laughter and cheerful chatter. More villagers dropped by, on their way to do seongmyo. Presently, the tables and dishes were cleared away. They set off to the hills to Min-soo's tomb.
With the grave tidied up on Chilseok, the seongmyo was carried out smoothly. They spend a little time sightseeing for Dong-min and Heo Bae were interested to have a look of the region. With Suk-kwon playing the role of guide, pointing out interesting landmarks as they went along. The rest followed at their own pace.
"You are quiet today," Yunbok said to the boy trotting beside him, for P'ado had a pensive look.
"Aboji. Did not ... omonim say anything about abonim?"
Yunbok understood at once that the boy was concerned about his own father. Having witnessed for himself the conciliation of lost family, how could he not hope for the same?
"I'm sorry, P'adoa, she was too weak."
"Aboji, do you think abonim might have ..," P'ado hesitated, not certain how to voice his fears. Had his real father died? Was that why his mother was wandering around?
"Do not think of the worst when you know not what had happened," said Yunbok, crouching down so he could see the boy clearly. "Are you afraid he did not want you or omonim?"
The boy bowed his head in silence, afraid if he should say it aloud, it would be true.
"What can you tell me of the stories we shared every night?"
"The stories?" the boy frowned, trying to discern Yunbok's intention. "The stories teach us how to behave? To teach us right from wrong?"
"Anything else?"
"There are good and bad people, some are brave, others are cowards. Poor and rich, weak and powerful," the boy chanted.
"Very good, anything else you can think of?" Yunbok smiled when the boy shook his head. "The people in the stories, are they all the same? They're not. Every one of them has a different tale, a different way of seeing things around them. Abonim's story will not be the same as omonim's."
"Then..," P'ado said hopefully.
"There is one thing that is the same, P'adoa. The love that fathers give to their children," Yunbok said earnestly. "Abonim loves you, you can be sure of that. And like omoni's aboji, he will be looking for you, he will never give up."
"He will really look for me?" Hope warred with disbelief.
"Yes, he will. When he finally finds you. he will tell you why he was not with you and omonim years ago. You will listen, won't you? With a open heart."
"What if he never finds me?"
"Then I guess you're stuck with omoni and aboji. Are you not happy with us?"
"I want no other!" the boy declared, flinging his arms around Yunbok.
"Then it's settled, no?" Yunbok gently pulled away the boy's arms from around his neck. "Come, we'll miss all the fun at the jangsi."
They hurried to catch up to the rest, already distant down the hills. Beneath the high blue sky, loud and joyous were the voices and music that rang out as people from the villages came together to celebrate Chuseok. Ssireum competitors fought harder in an effort to win the prize of an ox put up on this special day. Matches were intensed and unpredictable. As equally fervent were the baduk and janggi competitions, for the prizes were as enticing. Long was the queue to collect winnings of the weaving competition. The delight from Suk-kwon and the Joon brothers were such that Yunbok thought they were too boisterous. Having pitched in a bet and won, Dong-min promised P'ado a treat. Food and drink was readily available, courtesy of the team that lost in the weaving competition. Two different troupes entertained the crowd at opposite ends of the jangsi.
Heo Bae was pleased to note that his group was giving their best. How annoyed he had been to learn the entire group had gone to town that day, leaving Soo-jin alone at the lodge. It was not entirely their fault however for she had encouraged the whole group to go. The better that no one saw what she was about. It was fortunate nothing untoward had happened. But why was he thinking about it? It was all over, he should look forward. He took a deep breath, glancing at the faces of his companions enjoying the performances. His smile turned warmer at Hyeja beside him.
Fresh breeze blew readily, enlivening the air in the late afternoon as the crowd heaved enthusiastically for the juldarigi event. Shouts and the clashing of gongs almost deafened everyone. As night fell, torches, chorong and tungnong were lit. The crowd sat about, enjoying dinners and the talchum that had been ongoing for the whole day. When the moon showed her face, it was scrutinised for long moments. Was it reddish? It would mean drought, most feared by farmers. Was it too bright white? Ah, then there would be special heavy rainfall during the rainy season.
Comments flew all around. There was a general sigh of relief. The moon was neither red nor too bright. In celebration of the new moon, the women came together for the ganggangsullae, with the singer standing in the center starting the dance which began to go faster and faster, coming apart at times to weave the circle again and the dance continued until late into the night which gradually wound down into slumbering silence as the crowds dispersed for home.
All was quiet at the paper mill. Not ready for rest, the two sat at their favourite spot at the porch, gazing into the sky.
"A good year." There was no answer. He fluttered his fingers before her face. "Sleeping already?"
"Almost, the dance wore me out," she murmured. "Was there anything of note? I saw master Park talking to you."
"Chung has gone north," he said almost inaudibly near her ear. "Ghim is stuck in prison with no idea that bigger trouble is heading his way. The thorn will be gone until the next one comes along."
"I'm still not sure Chung can be trusted. He can easily play us for fools," she muttered.
"Just as we trust old master Han? Didn't he come here that night to play that rigmarole with the two of you?" He drew aside a strand of her hair that was tickling his face and tucked it behind her ear.
"Ooohh ... I do so not like to be tested so," she made a face at that reminder. "He could have just told us what was really going on."
"He was testing Iseul, not you," he chuckled. "Returning to your previous statement, Chung does not know who I really am. That run in we had was incidental. For all he knows, I'm just one of old master Han's underlings."
"That's g...," a yawn caught her in mid-sentence.
"Definitely, you are tired," he laughed. "All that talking these few days must be really exhaustive."
"Isn't that what is expected of us?" she sighed.
"There're still months yet to spring, what's the hurry?"
"It's curiosity. Surely Dong-min asked you alot of questions?"
"He's as bad as P'ado," lamented Yunbok. "I had to turn elderly on him to evade some of his questions."
"That's right, put your age to good use. Ow!" she elbowed him when he pinched her.
"Aigoo, I should have put on extra jackets." He rubbed his stomach. "I hope that makes you feel better."
"Not by much." His warmth was a assuring support to her. "So much regret, so much pain, it seems impossible to recover from them."
"We have gone through worse. We will again." He embraced her encouragingly. "We will visit him one day and you can bare your heart. For now, treasure this time with your brother and sister."
"I still find it hard to believe I have siblings." She plucked his fingers absentmindedly. "I've always wanted a sister to play with and a brother to look after me."
"There's nothing like family," he agreed. "With your father absent most of the time, it's natural to desire siblings."
"Yes," she nodded. "I'm really glad ajoshi Heo is finally going to settle down. We must make his wedding as grand as possible."
"Certainly, we must," he said, pleased that Heo Bae wanted to hold the ceremony before they left. The older man's intention to ease her need to make up for his sacrifices was transparent but welcomed. "That reminds me, I informed Yoo Jung of our decision regards the betrothal proposal."
"How did he receive it?"
"He is disappointed of course but I pointed out the possibility of P'ado's relatives come a calling or his probable desire to seek them. In which case, it would not be wise of me to arrange any marriage for him." He felt her startlement.
"I thought we agreed that he is to have the freedom of choice?"
"That too but you know he might just want to go look for his bloodkin. We have no idea who they truly are. If he finds them, they might have plans for him."
"You're too scrupulous," she scolded mildly, feeling that they themselves had the right to decide for P'ado, not some strangers the boy would not know despite their being family. "But we're over reaching ourselves, don't you think?"
"Are we? What if his father should turn up one day or if P'ado wants to look for him?" he felt her stilled. "When I talked to him after the seongmyo, there was fear in him. That the reason Min-soo was wandering out there was abandonment."
"I'm not surprised he would feel that way," she sighed. "I know how he feels."
"I told him his father will look for him, that he will eventually find him and when he does, he will listen to what his father has to say." He held her tightly. "Just as your father would have done, dear heart but was held back by the need to work for your freedom." For a long moment, there was only soft weeping.
"Will...will he really turn up for P'ado? What will we do if he does?" she hiccuped.
"We will only know once he does. Until then," he wiped her tears away. "Let's think of the road ahead of us, shall we?"
Together 'round the eaves we go The blossoms of the plum do laugh
Upward floats a vague perfume; moonlight glids the dusk.
What's more, it's cold, what is the white snow doing here?
Perhaps it is quite jealous in the warm of spring
Found in the bridal suite.
"Now you made me hanker ever for spring," she complained before looking up into the sky and singing softly.
Though you be small, you float on high,
Making all the world bright.
Is there any other who can match your shining light
In the middle of the night?
Though you look at me, you do not speak a word,
But you are my friend, it seems.
"And what am I?" he said.
"You know what you are."
Unknown Location
The hut was small and cramped, filled with heavy snores and the heat of several unwashed bodies. Metal slithered a little way across the floor as a pair of legs shifted. A hand reached out to tilt the open window wider. Another moon, another month. As surely as the sun and the moon moved, the days come and go. If only they would go faster. Just another twelve months to go. Another twelve. Longing rose in him as he gazed at the moon. He squashed it ruthlessly. Twelve. Soon, he would be free to walk where he would. Patience. Home, he would be home soon. They would be waiting for him. Twelve months.
The heavens will be on my side. Min-soo, keep yourself safe. Keep our son safe. I will be home soon.
Korean Words
jangdokdae - cluster of earthenware jars where various sauces are stored
songpyeon - half moon rice cakes stuffed with different ingredients of choice: soybeans, cowpeas, chestnuts, jujubes, bean powder, sesame and honey
Korean Poems
Together 'round the eaves we go
The blossoms of the plum do laugh
Upward floats a vague perfume; moonlight glids the dusk.
What's more, it's cold, what is the white snow doing here?
Perhaps it is quite jealous in the warm of spring
Found in the bridal suite. - Yi Chong-bo (1693 - 1766)
Though you be small, you float on high,
Making all the world bright.
Is there any other who can match your shining light In the middle of the night?
Though you look at me, you do not speak a word,
But you are my friend, it seems. - Yun Seon-do (1587 1671)